Ultra-Wideband Confocal Microwave Imaging for Brain Tumor Detection

Abstract

Abstract A high-performance UWB array antenna to identify a tumor in a human brain phantom using confocal microwave imaging technique is presented. The antenna operated within the ultra-wideband (UWB) from 1.2 GHz to 10.8 GHz. Its high gains of between 5.2 dB and 14.5 dB and compact 90 mm × 45 mm size enabled its functionality and eased its integration into the microwave imaging system. Besides developing UWB array antenna as the sensor, a low-cost human head phantom represented by tissue simulating liquid as layers of skin, fat, skull, and brain are also developed. The antenna transmits the signal through the head phantom from 9 different points and receives the scattered waves under two different conditions; in the presence and absence of the tumor. The recorded scattering parameters are further processed in an improved delay and sum imaging algorithm using Matrix Laboratory software to generate an accurate image. The produced image indicated the presence of the tumor with an error of less than 2 cm.